Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner brought Swansea back down to earth as Sunderland returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory.

The Benin international fired the Black Cats ahead in stunning fashion with 14 minutes gone, and substitute Gardner made sure of the three points with an equally adept finish five minutes from time.

Martin O'Neill's men were forced to defend for long periods, particularly before the break, as the visitors attempted to build on last weekend's Barclays Premier League victory over Arsenal. However, they were unable to make the pressure count when they were in the ascendancy and the home side saw out time relatively comfortably.

The Black Cats ran out determined to avenge last weekend's 1-0 reverse at Chelsea, and they started in promising fashion. They might have been ahead as early as the fifth minute when Sebastian Larsson met Kieran Richardson's left-wing cross with a powerfully-struck volley at the far post, but saw his effort come back off the upright.

O'Neill was dealt a blow when he was forced to replace striker Nicklas Bendtner with teenager Connor Wickham after the Dane had been accidentally caught in the face by Angel Rangel's boot.

Danny Graham failed to make contact in front of goal, but the ball ran to Scott Sinclair behind the far post and he skied his effort well over. The visitors were made to pay within seconds when Sessegnon cut inside from the left and curled a deft shot across keeper Michel Vorm and high into the top corner.

David Vaughan blazed over from 22 yards five minutes later as the home side threatened to kill the game off, but the visitors belatedly found their feet. Graham was unable to direct Sigurdsson's 26th-minute cross at goal, but keeper Simon Mignolet was grateful to see the midfielder's dipping effort from distance drop just wide five minutes later.

Sigurdsson saw a 39th-minute shot blocked by Lee Cattermole and scuffed a second straight at Mignolet seconds later. O'Neill was clearly unhappy with his side's performance as the half drew to a close, and the whistle arrived as something of a relief.

With 51 minutes gone. Sessegnon's enterprising run allowed him to feed Larsson on the right and when the Swede sent in an inviting cross, the former only just failed to connect with an overhead kick. The visitors responded and after Sigurdsson had wasted a 55th-minute free-kick, he forced a good save from Mignolet with a second three minutes later.

Loan signing Josh McEachran arrived as a 66th-minute replacement for Sigurdsson. They came close to falling further behind 15 minutes from time when Sessegnon dived to meet James McClean's cross with a firm header, but the ball flew just wide. Gardner wrapped up the points with a fine volley five minutes from time.